John Buckeridge's story

Journals for Jesus

YOUTHWORKERS need all the encouraging and equipping they can get. For whether salaried by a church or working as a volunteer, they are doing 'a hugely important and undervalued job'. So says John Buckeridge, who has practised what he's preached for 12 years by founding and then editing 'Youthwork' - Britain's leading magazine for anyone involved in the care of young people.

Offensive cards 

But that's not the only publication under his wing. As editorial director of a publishing company, John also oversees the trade paper 'Christian Marketplace' and the feature magazine 'Christianity'. With their combined readership of 50,000, managing such titles is a big responsibility. But it has its rewards. 'Readers often write to tell me how an article may have encouraged them,' said John, who is 47.

One reader told their story after seeing a feature on pornography in 'Christianity’. By complaining about some offensive greetings cards, they persuaded the Sainsburys chain to drop the entire range. ‘If all of us who follow Christ - and there are millions of us - play our part, the Church could change our society in many ways,’ said the reader. ‘Letters like that are very encouraging!’ John explained. ‘My readers have many different needs,’ he added. ‘I hope they get informed, encouraged and are made to think and think again about their faith and how it relates to British culture in the 21st century.’

Winning goal 

So while running these key Christian publications, where does he get his inspiration? ‘John Wesley,’ he admitted, ‘for his determination, single-minded evangelistic effort, ability to write a daily journal, and someone God used mightily. ‘That said, he was also deeply flawed. He made a disastrous choice for a wife, was emotionally unstable at times and also had an immature and idealistic view of relationships in general and women in particular. But the fact is, every human is flawed!’  John also credits Pioneer for supplying encouragement at key moments. ‘Gerald Coates’ ministry and his vision for non-religious, culturally relevant, mission-minded church has infected the DNA of Pioneer,’ he said, ‘and it is this that attracts me.’ 

But life isn’t all publications and projects. John relaxes by reading, watching football, playing games with his two sons, and gardening. His favourite music track is ‘The Long And Winding Road’ by The Beatles; his favourite film is ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest’. And his happiest moment? ‘The day I got married - and the days when my sons were born,’ said John. ‘Deciding to follow Christ was a brilliant moment - although I was only nine so my memories are distant - and of course the day Portsmouth achieved promotion to the Premiership two years ago which made me a very happy bunny.’  Of course, he dreams of scoring the winning goal for Portsmouth in the European Champions League Final. But apart from that, he wants to be part of God's plan to equip believers to be more effective.

How would he like to be remembered?  

‘The crucial thing is whether Christ will say to me, “Well done good and faithful servant” when I see him after death. If friends and family say nice things about me at my funeral - that'll be great - although I'd prefer they tell me when I'm still alive!’

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